This majestic building in the Innere Stadt was the site of 1913’s notorious ‘Skandalkonzert’ (in short: Schoenberg conducted while audience members threw punches). But that’s the exception rather than the rule in this most celebrated (and traditional) of Europe’s great concert halls—where the resident Vienna Philharmonic plays symphonic repertoire in the stunning Golden Hall, and performs the annual New Year’s Day concert of Viennese ‘pops’ to a worldwide TV audience.

This Renaissance Revival theater on Vienna’s Ring Road is easily one of the world’s finest opera houses and the undisputed heart of Vienna’s musical and social life. Mahler, Caruso, and Richard Strauss all performed here, and tradition seems to drip from the very chandeliers. What’s unexpected? Standing-room-only ‘cheap seats’ that go on sale 80 minutes before a show (be warned: the locals can be vociferous). Befitting its upscale address, there is a dress code (no shorts for men, no tank tops).

It’s not as grand as the State Opera (and it’s closed for renovations until 2024), but for the serious classical music fan, this theater is unmissable for its history alone. It was founded by Emanuel Schikaneder, the librettist of Mozart’s The Magic Flute; for a time, Beethoven lived upstairs; and it’s the spiritual home of Viennese operetta from Johann Strauss to Franz Lehár, both still big box office in their old hometown.

With four halls capable of hosting concerts simultaneously (don’t worry, they’re soundproof), the belle epoque Konzerthaus is home to the Vienna Symphony, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Wiener Singakademie, and Klangforum Wien. A less formal entry point than the Musikverein to Vienna’s famous musical culture, this venue near the Belvedere Palace is still at the cutting edge—with the annual Wien Modern festival featuring DJs and performance art alongside contemporary classics.

Visit during the day to marvel at this Baroque church’s stunning marble interior, ceiling frescoes, and the gilded high altar with its larger-than-life statue of Saint Charles Borromeo. On select evenings, however, the period-instrument Orchestra 1756 performs popular Classical and Baroque lollipops (Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is a particular favorite) in front of the high altar. Concerts are short, and do take note: The church has no public bathrooms.

A slightly unexpected home for the Vienna Boys Choir (when not touring, they perform on Fridays), this modern venue in Vienna’s hipster Leopoldstadt district also offers a full slate of classical and chamber music, as well as jazz, big band, and puppet shows for kids. Although the building’s exterior is all sharp angles and glass, the lobby bar, Café Maximilian, is warm and welcoming. On the plus side, modern design means modern engineering; MuTh has undeniably excellent acoustics.

Consider this a perfect destination for dinner and a show in enjoyably kitschy Viennese style, with curated packages offering daily Strauss (Johann, that is) and Mozart concerts by the Alt Wien Orchestra, along with four-course meals and an optional BigBus sightseeing ticket. Expect dancing and singing at this historic dance hall in the Stadtpark, an old haunt of Vienna’s own ‘waltz king’ Johann Strauss II. Guests must be 16 or older, so you may want to look elsewhere for a family night out.

Opera is a way of life in Vienna, and nowhere more than at the Volksoper. The striking white jugendstil theater on Himmelpfortgasse is a cheerful, informal counterpart to the grandeur of the State Opera, and its program is unashamedly on the lighter side: comic opera, musicals, and (above all) classic Viennese operetta. Wear jeans and trainers if you like; performances have English subtitles and there’s even a kids’ menu of scaled-down operas especially for children.